Former Australian cricketer shares his thoughts on Rohit Sharma’s controversial non-striker runout decision during Sri Lanka ODI series

Indian cricket board replaced Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma for the Indian captaincy role after Kohli couldn’t win several major world events. Rohit, on the other hand, has won a record five Indian T20 League titles while leading a Mumbai-based franchise. A lot was expected from Rohit’s leadership, but the Men in Blue’s performance under him was more disappointing than what it was under Kohli.

India failed to make it to the Asia Cup final when Rohit was the captain and then suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against England in the T20 World Cup semi-final. However, he has won multiple bilateral series and also clinched an ODI and T20I series in England and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Recently, during the first ODI match between India and Sri Lanka, the Indian skipper withdrew an appeal for a non-striker run-out, and his decision won many hearts. Former legendary cricketer Ian Chappell talked about the incident and said that if there is a particular law for this then it should be followed.

“Two major cricket controversies – run outs at the bowler’s end and catches referred to the third umpire – have reared their ugly head again, creating further headaches that should’ve been alleviated long ago. The run out at the bowler's end, could have and should have been resolved easily. The original law was more than adequate and should never have been changed. It’s a reminder that there are generally two solutions to a problem – a simple one and the other more complicated," Chappell wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

If Indian captain Rohit Sharma had enforced...: Ian Chappell

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami tried to run out Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka in the ODI series but the appeal was taken back by the Indian captain. Chappell reacted to the same and said that Rohit should have enforced the appeal.

"Cricket is renowned for choosing the complicated solution. Attempting a run out at the bowler's end without warning a batsman is not unsporting. Appealing for a catch that a fielder knows he's caught should not be subjected to crowd booing as it's legal. In the Guwahati game against Sri Lanka, I'd have preferred if Indian captain Rohit Sharma had enforced, rather than rescinded, the runout appeal against his opposite number Dasun Shanaka," pointed out Chappell.